Pipe seasoner and rejuvenator



PIPE SEASONER AND REJUVENATOR Filed March 4, 1939 5 flblliafiel lirykl'erl;

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STAT E S PATENT O FF! CE PIPE ESE-ASGNER AND 'REJUVEN'ATOR Santo Belling'hieri, Boston, .Mas's.

App lit-iaitibh M81011 4, 1939, Se1ia1 Nb. 259,91'1 6 Claims. (Cl. 131-172) My invention relates to an article of manuiacture for breaking in tobacco pipes.

An important'obje'ct of my invention is the provision of a device for breaking in a smokers pipe thatis extremely e'fl icient in the perform- I ance of its duties.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device for breaking in a smokers pipe that is adapted to break the pipe in slowly and in a manner not to overheat or burn the same.

Yet another object of my invention is the provision of a device for breaking in a smokers pipe that will reproduce in a mechanical manner the smoking operation as done naturally by the smoker.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a device for breaking in a smokers pipe that is simple in construction, efiicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device for breaking in a smokers pipe wherein a rejuvenescence of the pipe may be attained.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following descri tion.

In the drawing, forming a, part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

'Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse'sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates-a-base member, of substantially ellipsoidal formation having a flat top 8 and an inwardly extending circumferential base flange 1. The top 8 is formed at one end thereof with an indentation 9 which is adapted toreceive the bowl In of the pipe I l. The deepest portion "of the indentation 9 is nearer the end of the base memher 5 so that the stem 12 of the pipe extends angular-1y above the top surface '8 of the base. A boss 13 is formed on the base a substantialdis tance rearwardlyof the indentation!) and has a screw threaded 'cul-de-s'ac I4 therein which receives the shank 15 of the pipe stem supporting bracket "5.. The bracket 13 may be rotated to elevate or lower the-stem 1 lot the pipe.

. A shell I8 "is securedto theend L1 or the base by means of bolts [9 which extend upwardly through the top 8 into the bosses 2% formed at requisite intervals around the base of the shell. The shell is for-med with a laterally disposed partition 2| which divides the shell into an upper compartment 22 and a lower compartment 23. A substantially U-sh'aped bracket 24 is riveted, or otherwise secured, to the top 8 of the base. One arm 25 of the bracket 24 is substantially longer than the other arm26thereof, and extends up- Wardly through the partition 21 to terminate against the top of theshell l8-. The shorter arm 26 terminates against the partition '21.

A self-starting electric motor 21 is riveted or otherwise secured to the top of the base 5 and within the rearward end of the lower compartment 23-. The motor is connected to any suitable source of electrical power by means of the cable 28, and interposed between the source of power and the motor is a conventional flasher 29 adapted to alternately turn the motor ofi and on at regular intervals during the time it is energized The drive shaft 30 of the motor extends through the arms 25 and 26 of the bracket 28 and terminates forwardly of the bracket in a worm '3l. A U=shapecl bracket 32 is riveted 'tothe arm 26 at "substantially its middle, and-extending through "aligning openings in its opposite arms is-a shaft-r33 which carries a worm wheel 34 on its lower end in engagement wit-hthewormtl. The upwardly extending end of the shaft 33 terminates in a worm 35 which engages for rotation a worm wheel 35 supported on the spindle 3' whichis'rotatably journaled to the upper end of the 'arm 26. Theiorward end of the upper "compartment '22 is formed with a tube like portion 38 which terminates exteriorly of the shell'in ashank 39. The larger end 4B of a tapered, flexible tube 4| is positioned over theshank'39, and has the smaller end 42 thereof'fitted cver the end-of the stem [2 of the pipe "H. A disk 38' is mounted for rotation on the end of the spindle 31, and the upper portion thereof .projects upwardly into the compartment 22 through a slot 39 in the lateral partition '21. The disk is "provided with an elongated arcuated slot 40 adapted to intermittently register with the inner end of the" tube 38. A conventional smoke filter "6 is positioned in the bore of the tube 38.

The circular gear 42 is keyed to the shaft 30 rearwardly of the arm 25, and is inmeshed with a circular gear 42' journaled to the arm 2-5. Thegearfl" extendsinto the compartment 22 through a slot 43 provided in the lateral partition 2|. A shaft 44 is carried by the arm 25 at substantially the middle of the compartment 22 and has a circular gear 45 keyed on one end thereof, and inmeshed with the circular gear 42. A fan 46 is journaled on the forward end of the shaft 44 and draws air through the filter 6 when the slot 49 is in register therewith.

The operation of my device is as follows: The pipe II is positioned in the indentation 9 with the stem extending rearwardly thereof and supported by the bracket l6 which is rotated to the requisite level to properly position the stem |2 with respect to the flexible tube 4|. The device is adapted to break in any size ortype of pipe and inasmuch as the parts attached to the base are of standard size and shape I find it convenient and necessary to provide the ad'- justable means for the stems of various types of pipes in order to properly adapt the same to the, flexible tube 4|. The motor 21 positioned in the rear of the lower compartment 23 is caused to be energized intermittently by the flasher 29, and in the intervals during which it is energized, the fan 46 will be caused to rotate to. draw smoke through the upper compartment 22 from the front portion thereof, and to discharge the same through the screen filter 48.

The forward end of the compartment 22 is in direct communication with the bowl of the pipe through the bore of the tubular member 38; flexible tubing 4|, and the stem l2 of the pipe. When the motor is energized the worm gear 3| will effect the rotationof the disk 38 and will cause the arcuate slot 46' in the diskto register with the bore of the tube 38 at regular spaced intervals. During the interval that the slot40 is in register with the tube,-the fan 46 will cause a current of air to be drawn from the atmosphere through the lighted tobacco in the bowl of the pipe. The smoke from the tobacco will be drawn up the stem through the flexible tube 4|, filter 6 and into the upper compartment 22 where it will be discharged through the screen filter 43. Upon further rotation of the diskthe slot 40 will pass out of registerwith the tube and the drawing of air through the pipe. by the fan will cease until the slot 40 again moves into register with the tube 38. I have foundthat con: tinuous rotation of the disk 38' in a manner to bring the slot 40 into uninterrupted intermittent register with the bore of the tube 38 will produce overheating of the bowl III and destroy the eificacy ofthe breaking in process. 2 2 Therefore, to morenearly simulate the actualmanner of manual smoking of the pipe,'I haveprovided the flasher 29 to periodically stop. the motor 21, whereby the slot 40 will register withthe bore of the tube 38 four 'or five successive times, after which time the motor will stop fo'ra short interval to permit the pipeto Smolder. before again being subjected'to thesuction from the fan. The above operationfwill cause four or five pufls of smoke to be drawn.v from the pipe, and thereafter followed by a' period of finactivity, after which period a series of four or five puffs of smoke will'again be-drawn from the pipe. This procedurewill'not only-prevent overheating of the motor and a substantial saving in electricity, but will'prevent the pipe frombe coming overheated or burning, and will reproduce the actual manual smoking technique in a mechanical way; I r It is a wellknown factv that atar, comprising a tacky combination ofnic'otin, saliva and tobacco residue, frequently collects in the bowl of the pipe after the same has been continually smoked for several days. The smoking of the pipe, when in this condition, will frequently react adversely to the smoker, and may be accompanied by sensations of nausea, dizziness, headaches, etc.

If the strong pipe is placed in the indentation 9 and with the stem thereof connected to the flexible tube 4|, the, device hereinbefore described may be used to rejuvenate and sweeten the same, a small amount of pipe cleaning fluid is poured into the empty bowl, and upon rotation of the fan 46, the fluid will dissolve the tar and be drawn through the stem and into the filter 6, where it will be retained and prevented from entering the shell l8 and covering the mechanism of the device.

It may thus be seen that not only is my invention adapted to break in a new pipe but it may also be used to effectively clean and sweeten an old pipe that has become strong and vile tasting by reason of the accumulation of tobacco tar in the bowl. 7

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for slowly breaking in a-smokers pipe comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet port, means to couple a pipe stem'to the inlet port of the housing, means to intermittently open and close the saidinlet port, suction means located intermediate'the said inlet and outlet ports adapted to draw air through the pipe when the said second mentioned means openscommu'nication'with the inlet port, and means for automatically interrupting the operation of the suction means, and of the second mentioned means at regularly spacedintervals oftime. I

2. A device forslowly breaking in a smokers pipe comprising a housing having an inlet fand an outlet port, means to couple a'pipe st'em to the inlet port of the housing, an obturator located'in juxtaposition with .the inlet port for effecting intermittent openingand closing thereof, suction means arranged intermediate of the inlet and outlet ports adapted to draw air through the pipe when communication with the inlet port is permitted by the said obturator," drive means connected with both the suction means and obturator for simultaneously actuating the same in a manner whereby the obturator will permit communication of the'suction means with the inlet port at regularly spaced intervalsof time, and separate means for automatically interrupting the operation of the drive means for a selected interval oftime at regularly spaced intervals of time. 1 l

3. In a device for slowly breaking in a tobacco pipe, a housing formed-with a transverse par tition for dividing the. same into an upper and lower chamber, which upper chamber constitutes a smoke passage having an inlet port at 'one end and an outlet port at the opposite end thereof, means for coupling a pipe stem to the inlet port of the housing, a motor disposed within the lower chamber of thehousing, a fan mounted'within the upper chamber of the. housing intermediate the inlet and'outletports, agdisk -e1emem' our nalled for rotation in the lower chamber of the housing, the upper portion of the disk extending into the smoke passage and covering the inlet port, and the portion of the disk adapted to move across the inlet port having an opening for intermittently registering with the inlet port during the rotation of the disk to permit the fan to draw air through the pipe, and gear means connecting the motor with both the fan and disk whereby actuation of the motor will effect simultaneous actuation of the fan and disk.

4. In a device for slowly breaking in a tobacco pipe, a housing formed with a transverse partition for dividing the same into an upper and lower chamber, which upper chamber constitutes a smoke passage having an inlet port and an outlet port at its opposite ends, means for coupling a pipe stem to the inlet port of the housing, a motor disposed within the lower chamber of the housing, a fan mounted within the upper chamber of the housing intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, a disk element journalledior rotation in the lower chamber of the housing, the upper portion of the disk extending into the smoke passage and covering the inlet port, and the portion of the disk adapted to move across the inlet port having an opening for intermittently registering with the inlet port during the rotation of the disk to permit the fan to draw air through the pipe, gear means connecting the motor with both the fan and disk whereby actuation of the motor will effect simultaneous actuation of the fan and disk, and means for automatically interrupting the operation of the motor to effect cessation of the movements of the fan and disk at regularly spaced intervals of time.

5. In a device for slowly breaking in a tobacco pipe, a housing formed with a transverse partition for dividing the same into an upper and lower chamber which upper chamber constitutes a smoke passage having an inlet port at one end and an outlet port at its opposite end, means for coupling a pipe stem to the inlet port of the housing, a suction means disposed within the smoke passage for drawing atmospheric air through the inlet port and discharging the same through the outlet port, a disk journalled for rotation about a horizontal axis having a portion thereof extending into the smoke passage to close the inlet port, rotation of the disk causing the peripheral marginal edge of the disk to move across the inlet port and to effect intermittent registering between an opening in the disk and the inlet port, said opening being relatively small as compared with the portion of the disk effecting closing of the port, and means for simultaneously actuating both the suction means and. disk whereby the suction means may draw air through the pipe when the opening in the disk moves into register With the inlet port.

6. In a device for slowly breaking in a tobacco pipe, a housing formed with a transverse partition for dividing the same into an upper and lower chamber, which upper chamber constitutes a smoke passage having an inlet port at one end and an outlet port at its opposite end, means for coupling a pipe stem to the inlet port of the housing, a suction means disposed within the smoke passage for drawing atmospheric air through the inlet port and discharging the same through the outlet port, a disk journalled for rotation about a horizontal axis and having a portion thereof extending into the smoke passage to close the inlet port, rotation of the disk causing the peripheral marginal edge of the disk to move across the inlet port and to effect intermittent registering between an opening in the disk and the inlet port, said opening being relatively small as compared with the portions of the disk effecting closing of the port, a motor disposed within the lower chamber of the housing including a driven shaft having a driving connection with both the disk and suction means,

and circuit and control means for automatically interrupting the actuation of the motor for a definite interval at regularly spaced intervals of time.

SANTO BEILINGHIERI. 

